Cinder pit



y 7, 1929' w. ROBERTSON 1,711,809

CINDER PIT Filed April 5, 1926 Patented May 7, 1929.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ornnnn PIT.

Applioationfiled April 5, 1926. Serial No. 99,768.

This invention relates to a cinder pitpreferably in connection with railroads and it is an object of this invention to provide efficient safeguards for the workmen.

More specifically the invention provides means whereby men can work in safety on both sides of the locomotive and if a workman should be in the cinder pit when the cinder truck is above the ground, said means would act as a barrier to obstruct the descent of the conveyor car in case a cable should break. j

The invention comprises-the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out 1 and defined in the appended claims.

in the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this in vention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conveying apparatus for removing ashes from arailroad engine, showing therailroad track and barrier in section.

As shown on the drawings: v

Referring to the drawings there is shown a railroad track 11 over which trains are adapted; to pass and from which thesaid trains are adapted to discharge their cinders, or ashes into a conveyor car or truck 2 in a cinder pit beneath the track. A cable 3 attached to the truck forms the means for ele- Fi 2 is a top plan View of the apparatus.

vating the truck from the cinder pit. The

- cable maybe attached to anywell known hoisting machine as is common practice. This truck may run on suitable inclined tracks l extending into the pit. As the mouth 5 of the pit thru which the truck emerges must necessarily be on one side of the track, it will be impossible for workmen to work on this side of a locomotive positioned at the cinder pit. Further, if a workman should be in the cinder pit when the truck is out and is conveying and dumping ashes, the cable might break, thereby allowing the truckto descend by gravity into the pit on account of the inclination of the track 1- and injure or crush the workman. In order to overcome these objections, I have provided a hinged platform 6 adjacent the track which affords a support for the workmen over the mouth of the cinder pit and which affords a barrier to obstruct the cinder truck in its downward descent should the cable break, or should it accidentally return thru other causes.

The lateral nether margins of the platform 6 are provided with suitable hinge straps 7, and a central nether hinge strap 8 is attached to the platform. These straps are hinged to a suitable hinge strip 9 attached to a short rail 1 supported adjacent the track. The platform and central hinge member 8' are fashioned to provide a slot 10 terminating in a recess 11. The slot 10 extends from the outer edge of the platform to a suitable point within and affords a path or way for the cable 3 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The platform is adapted to be swung upwardly on its hinges by compressed fluid admitted into the lower end of a cylinder 12 positioned under an outer corner of the platform, a piston (not shown) in the cylinder and provided with a rod 13 pivotally connected to the bottom of the platform is acted upon by the compressed fluid for raising the platform. The cylinder 12 is preferably pivoted at its lower end upon a support l i which has an upwardly extending lug-15, the cylinder having a downwardly extending lug'16 and a pivotpin 17 extends thru said lugs. Consequently the cylinder can swing and adjust itself as the platform is swung upwardly. For this purposeythe upper and lowerpivots of the cylinder are in parallel relation and extend parallel to the hinge axis of the platform.

A fluid pipe 18 connects with the lower end of the cylinder 12 for supplying the operating fluid. This pipe leads to a valve chamber 19 in which a foot operated valve 20 controls the flow of fluid. An exhaust 21 leads from the valve chamber 19 and a short pipe section 22 connects the valve 19 with the service line 23 that connects with a valve cylinder 24 constituting a part of the hoisting machine or apparatus with which this invention is not directly concerned.

The parts are normally in the position shown in Fig. 1. Now if the truck has been filled with cinders it is drawn out by the cable 3 which constitutes the operating means. While. the cable is usually attached to some hoisting mechanism, it may be manually grasped and drawn by an operator as far as this invention is concerned.

As the truck is drawn upwardly, it will strike the platform and usually automatically swing the same upwardly so that the truck can pass. The platform however may first be elevated by compressed air by properly operating the valve 20 as previously explained. As soon as the truck passes the platform, the latter will descend to normal position. Consequently if a workman should go into the pit for the purpose of working on the locomotive or for any other reason, the platform 6 will serve as a barrier to intercept the truck should the cable break, or the truck start its descent for any other reason. Gbviously the worlmian in the pit will be protected against the accidental descent of the truck.

\Vhen it is desired to lower the truck into the pit, the operator needs only step on the stem of the valve 20 for admitting air in the cylinder 12 for raising the platform 6. When the truck has descended into the pit the operator will remove his foot from the valve 20 allowing the platform to descend by gravity.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the swinging platform serves both as a barrier to intercept an accidentally descending truck, and a support upon which workmen can stand to inspect and operate upon the locomotive.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the spirit or this invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim my invention:

1. In a cinder pit having an inclined. track, a truck adapted to be moved over said track, means for pulling said truck out of the pit, a hinged platform projecting over the mouth of said pit and adapted to be elevated by said truck and means independent of said truck for elevating said platform, said platform havin a recessed portion through which said pulling means extends.

2. in a railroad track having a pit tlierebeneath, a truck adapted for movement into said pit below said track, and, a barrier normally positioned in the path of said truck and arranged for intercepting said truck upon accidental downward descent, said bill' rier being movable by said truck as said truck is raised from the pit.

3. In combination, a railroad tracln a pit below said track and having a mouth adja cent a side of said track and a movable plat form connected to said track and disposed over said mouth of the pit.

4. in combination a railroad track, a pit below said track and having a mouth adjacent a side of said track, a movable barrier disposed over said mouth of the pit, conveying means movable into, said pit when said barrier is moved away from the mouth of the pit, said. latter means being arranged to move said barrier out of its path as it is raised from the pit and means for automatically raising said barrier to allow said conveying means to reenter the pit.

5. In combination a railroad track, a pit below said track, and having a mouth adjacent a side oi? said track, a movable platform eiated with said track and disposed over said mouth of the pit, and fluid means for moving said barrier. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed by name.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON. 

